Tobacco hanger



Feb. 19, 1957 w. z. BARKLEY 2,781,921

TOBACCO HANGER Filed April 8, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l Wile Z. Bark/e Fig.y INVENT IQ.

MW -Mnaqs W. Z. BARKLEY TOBACCO HANGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wiley 2. Bark/)IN VEN TOR. BY m"- Fig. 2

Feb. 19, 1957 Filed April 8, 1954 Feb. 19, 1957 W. Z. BARKLEY TOBACCOHANGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8, 1954 United States PatetitOTOBACCO HANGER Wiley Z. Barkley, Elm City, N. C.

Application April 8, 1954, Serial No. 421,892

1 Claim. (Cl. 214-16) This invention relates to a tobacco hanger, andmore particularly to a device for facilitating the hanging of tobaccosticks onvand the removal of the same from the tiers of tier poles whilestanding onthe floor of a barn.

An object of this invention is to provide a tobacco hangerconsisting ofa plurality of tier poles which are mounted; for :vertical movementwithin a barn.

- Another object of this invention is to provide a tobacco hanger havingnovel means for raising and lowering the tier poles within a tobaccobarn.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tobacco hanger havingnovel guide means for guiding the tier poles in vertical movement withina tobacco barn.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a tobacco hangerhaving the above characteristics which can be simply and efficientlyinstalled in existing barns and which is durable and lasting in use.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a tobacco barnshowing the tobacco hanger mounted therein;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the barn showing theimproved tobacco hanger mounted therein;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the clevis for supportingthe uppermost tier pole of each set; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket for supportingthe lower tier poles of each set.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings there isdisclosed a tobacco curing barn having front and rear end Walls and 12,respectively. The front and rear end walls are substantially sealed andthe front wall 10 is provided with a conventional door 14. The barn isfurther provided with side walls 16. The side walls 16 are formed of aplurality of spaced parallel boards which allow the passage of airtherethrough for ventilation of the barn. A plurality of pairs ofvertically extending studs 18 are provided for supporting the boards ofthe side walls 16. The purpose of the provision of pairs of studs 18will be later described.

A plurality of tier poles 20 are disposed within the barn and have theiropposite ends received between the pairs of vertical studs 18. The tierpoles 20 are arranged in sets so that a plurality of tier poles restsbetween aligned pairs of vertical studs 18. The sets of tier poles 20are horizontally spaced from each other and extend the full length ofthe barn.

Means are provided for connecting the tier poles 20 of each settogether. This means comprises a chain 22 2,781,921 7 ten d 19, tes

which is folded in half and has the free ends thereof adjacent eachother. A clevis having a web portion 24 and a pair of depending legs 26is secured to the chain adjacent the fold therein and with the chainentrained around the web portion 24. The free ends of the leg portions26 of the clevis are provided with inwardly extending flanges 28. Thetier poles are adapted to be positioned between the leg portions 26 andresting on the flanges 28. The leg portions 26 are each provided with anaperture 30 adjacent their free ends. The

5 tier pole 20 in position on the chain. Y

plates 36 are provided at one end with inwardly extending flanges 38.The plates 36 are further provided" with apertures 40extending'therethrough and in alignment with each other adjacent theflanges 38. The fasteners 34 are adapted to 'pass through the links ofthe chain 22 and through the aligned apertures 40 in the plates 36 andapertures 32 in the tier poles 20 for securing the lower tier poles tothe chain 22.

Rotatably mounted within the barn adjacent'the top thereof are a pair ofspaced parallel shafts 42. Suitable bearing blocks 44 may be utilizedfor mounting the shafts 42 in position. Fixedly secured to each of theshafts 42 are a plurality of pulleys 46 which are spaced longitudinallyalong the shaft 42. One of the pulleys 46 is positioned in overlyingrelationship to each set of tier poles 20. A flexible cable 48 issecured at one end in any suitable manner to the web portion 24 of theclevis. The other end of the flexible member 48 is secured in anysuitable manner to the pulleys 46. Thus, it will be seen that rotationof the shafts 42 will cause the cables 48 to be either wound or unwoundon the pulleys 46 thereby raising and lowering the tier poles 20 withinthe barn.

A suitable source of power 50, such as an electric motor or the like, ismounted in any convenient position adjacent the top of the barn. Adouble sprocket 52 is secured to the drive shaft of the motor and asingle sprocket 54 is fixedly secured to one end of each of the shafts42. A suitable chain 56 is entrained around the sprockets 52 and 54whereby the motor 50 can drive the shafts 42.

The barn is provided with a conventional roof structure 58 for coveringthe same.

While the power means has been disclosed in the drawings as being placedwithin the barn, the same could be placed outside of the barn and theshafts 42 could be provided with extensions extending outside of thebarn for connection to the power means. Further, the belt and pulleyarrangement shown could be replaced by a chain and sprocket arrangement.

In practical use of the device, when it is desired to suspend sticks oftobacco within the barn, the power means is operated to lower the setsof tier poles into the bottom portion of the barn. Then, the sticks oftobacco can be placed in position extending between the tier poles ofthe adjacent sets. As the upper tier poles are loaded, the power meansmay be actuated to raise the sets a desired amount whereby sticks oftobacco may be placed on the next lower tier poles. This operation iscontinued until all of the tier poles have been loaded and the sets oftier poles are raised to the upper portion tl s m where vt .twi j r an.w t ttlt .tqbsr e. s

cured. The reverse operation takes place when it is desired to unloadthe tier poles.

From the foregoing, the:construction;andoperationof the device willbereadilyl understood and'iurther ek planation is believed to be'unnecessary. However, since A tobacco hanger for use in a tobacco curingbarn,

said hanger comprising. a'pluralityof tier poles, said tier poles beingarranged in horizontally sp'aced sets with the poles in each set beingin vertically spaced relation in the same vertical plane a'plurality ofpairs of flexible members; each pair of flexible members connecting theopposite ends of the'tier poles of a set togethena pair ofspacedparallel shafts adapted to be rotatably mounted adjacent the top of abarn in overlying relationship to the opposite ends oi the tier poles,means mounted on said shafts for connecting one" flexiblef member ofeach pair to one'of saidshaftsand the other flexible member of each pairto the other ofsaid shafts, and drive means for imparting rotation tosaid shafts to. simultaneously lower said sets of tier poles to acompacted position in the lower portion of the barn and tosimultaneously elevate them to vertically spaced positions in the upperportion of the barn, and a plurality of pairs of vertical guidewaysadapted to be mounted in the barn, each pair of guideways receiving theends of the tier poles of each set and guiding the same for verticalmovement, each of said flexible members comprising an elongated chainhaving the free endsthereOf disposed adjacent each other and with theintermediateportions thereof disposed in spaced parallel relationship, aplurality of brackets secured to said intermediate portions in verticalspaced relation, said brackets including; pairs of spaced L- shapedplates engaging andsupporting the ends of the tier poles, the upperbracket of said brackets being in the form of a clevis, said chain beingentrained around the web portion of said clevis, said means connectingsaid flexible members to the shafts including a cable secured at one endto the web portion of the clevis, said cable being secured at its otherend to said shaft.

References Citedin the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 520,043Fox May 22, 1894 641,741 Travers Ian. 23, 1900 2,579,681 Leitner Dec.25, 1951 2,687,814 Romick Aug. 31, 1954

